New Details About Anthony Bourdain’s Last Days and Death

After Anthony Bourdain died by suicide, many of his fans realized they’ll never fully understand why the celebrity chef‘s life was cut short. But fans of Bourdain and his CNN series Parts Unknown can understand more about Bourdain’s last days as authorities release new details.

Read on to learn the latest details that authorities, friends, and family have shared about Anthony Bourdain.

1. There was no evidence of foul play

Chef Anthony Bourdain | Mike Coppola/Getty Images

The Associated Press reports that according to a French prosecutor, authorities found no evidence of foul play or violence in Anthony Bourdain’s death. Christian de Rocquigny, the prosecutor of Colmar in France’s eastern Alsace region, said, “There is no element that makes us suspect that someone came into the room at any moment.” A medical expert also concluded that there were no signs of violence on Bourdain’s body. Authorities are carrying out toxicology tests to find out whether he took any medications or drugs prior to his death.

Next: Bourdain ate one of his last meals here.

2. Bourdain ate 1 of his last meals at a Michelin-starred restaurant

The Associated Press reports that Anthony Bourdain ate one of his last meals at the Michelin-starred Auberge de l’Ill in Illhaeusern. The restaurant’s sommelier, Herve Fleuriel, said Bourdain sampled goose liver, frog’s legs, fish, and pigeon. And while at the restaurant, Bourdain and his longtime friend chef Eric Ripert had a “lively exchange” about the wine and food and how to pair them. According to Fleuriel, “They looked like they were pretty happy.”

Next: His mother said this about Bourdain’s mood in his last days.

3. His mother didn’t notice any warning signs

Anthony Bourdain | Craig Barritt/Getty Images for The New Yorker

The New York Times reports that Anthony Bourdain’s mother, Gladys Bourdain, said she had noticed no indication that the celebrity chef was thinking of suicide. “He is absolutely the last person in the world I would have ever dreamed would do something like this,” she told the Times. She said Ripert told her that “Tony had been in a dark mood these past couple of days,” but she didn’t know why he killed himself.

Psychology Today reports that though risk factors are often confused with warning signs of suicide, they are very different. Experts say that eight out of 10 people considering suicide give some sign of their intentions.

Next: This is what he was doing in France.

4. He was in France filming Parts Unknown

As The New York Times explains, Bourdain was found dead in his hotel room in France. He had traveled to the Alsace region, near France’s border with Germany, with a television production crew to record an episode of his CNN show, Parts Unknown. He was staying at Le Chambard, a luxury hotel in the village of Kayersberg. The village has two Michelin-starred restaurants, as well as famous vineyards. Ripert had appeared on numerous episodes of Bourdain’s show and was traveling with him at the time of his death.

Next: He skipped this activity the night before he died.

5. Bourdain skipped dinner the night before he died

As Today reports, Anthony Bourdain remained active on social media just days before his death, posting an Instagram shot of his “light lunch” of choucroute garnie, a traditional dish from eastern France.

But Maxime Voinson, a waiter at the Winstub where Bourdain had dined almost every night with Ripert while staying at Le Chambard, told The New York Times that Bourdain didn’t show up for dinner on June 7, the night before he died. “Mr. Ripert thought it was strange. We thought it was strange,” Voinson said. “Mr. Bourdain knew the chef, Monsieur Nasti; he knew the kitchen. Maybe he went out and ate somewhere else, we said, but we didn’t think much of it.”

Next: Ripert also waited for Bourdain the next morning.

6. Ripert also waited for Bourdain at breakfast the next day

The New York Times reports that Bourdain and Ripert had also had breakfast together at the Winstub during their stay in Kayersberg. On the morning of June 8, Bourdain didn’t show up for breakfast. “His friend was waiting at breakfast, and waiting and waiting,” Voinson told the Times.

Ripert tried to reach Bourdain on his cellphone, according to the hotel staff. A hotel receptionist then went to Bourdain’s room, where his body was discovered. According to the Times, French prosecutor Christian de Rocquigny said that authorities “suspect that not much preparation and premeditation went into the act.”

Next: Investigators are waiting for this.

7. Investigators are waiting for the results of blood tests

According to The New York Times, investigators await the results of blood tests screening for toxic substances and drugs. However, they don’t expect those results to change the outcome of the investigation. As de Rocquigny explains, “This is solely to give the family more information about the motivations and the cause of death. We have no indication that he was consuming alcohol the days before his death or changed his behavior.”

As Vox reports, experts explain that suicide, and the growing rates of suicide in the United States, are not caused by a single factor. The causes are much broader than mental health conditions, and rising suicide rates constitute a serious public health issue.

Next: A friend of Bourdain’s girlfriend said this about the chef’s death.

Rose McGowan released a statement imploring fans not to blame Bourdain’s girlfriend and McGowan’s friend, Asia Argento, for the celebrity chef’s suicide. As The Daily Beast reports, McGowan wrote that Bourdain sought help for mental illness but “did not take the doctor’s advice.” McGowan wrote, “His depression won.”

But the actress also wrote that “it is in no way fair or acceptable” to blame Argento or Bourdain. “We are asking you to be better, to look deeper, to read and learn about mental illness, suicide and depression before you make it worse for survivors by judging that which we do not understand, that which can never fully be understood.”